Google AI Mode & AI Overviews: Differences & What Matters Now for SEOs

Organic search as we knew it is over. Google is increasingly replacing classic search results with direct AI answers. For us SEOs, this is not a test run, but a fundamental change. Optimizing for clicks alone is now obsolete.

In this guide, I will precisely analyze the new systems for you, show the data-based consequences for web traffic, and provide you with a concrete action plan.

The crucial difference lies in the functionality and the interface. AI Overviews are automatic content summaries in the normal search, while the AI Mode is a standalone, interactive chat that you actively start.

What exactly are AI Overviews?

AI Overviews are automatically generated text blocks that answer a search query directly above the organic results. For this, Google aggregates content from several websites deemed trustworthy. The goal: a quick answer without a click. This feature has been active in Germany since March 26, 2025.

What exactly is the Google AI Mode?

The Google AI Mode is an interactive chat that takes place in its own tab. Here you conduct a dialogue with the AI (based on Gemini), ask complex follow-up questions, and deepen your research without leaving the Google environment. The official rollout in Germany started on October 8, 2025.

How Query Fan-Out technically changes search

The AI Mode uses a technique called “Query Fan-Out”. Instead of performing a single search, the AI breaks down a complex query into multiple sub-queries and processes them in parallel. The result is a deeper, more multifaceted answer that combines information from various, specialized sources.

A practical example: For the search “best noise-cancelling headphones”, the AI breaks down the query and searches in parallel for “current test reports”, “comparison of battery life”, and “cheapest prices”.

What does “Multimodal Search” mean?

Multimodal search means that the AI Mode can process multiple types of information simultaneously. For you as an SEO, this is relevant because pure text optimization is no longer sufficient. The functions include:

• Combined inputs: You can use text, voice, and images in a single query.
• Google Lens Integration: Visual search via camera is an integral part.
• Project Astra: The future real-time interaction with the environment via video stream.

Direct comparison at a glance

And what is the difference to ChatGPT & Perplexity?

At first glance, the AI Mode seems like a direct competitor, but the differences lie in the details and the purpose. Here is the classification that you as an SEO need to know:

• Data source and timeliness: The biggest difference is that the Google AI Mode operates directly on the live Google index. Its answers are therefore potentially as current as the search results themselves. ChatGPT’s core knowledge is based on a trained model with a knowledge cutoff, while Perplexity also accesses live web data but does not have Google’s comprehensive index.
• Integration vs. Standalone Product: The AI Mode is an integrated feature within the most used search engine. You do not leave the Google ecosystem. ChatGPT and Perplexity are standalone “Destination Sites” that you have to actively navigate to. Their goal is to be an alternative to traditional search.
• Core function: Google primarily positions the AI Mode as a search assistant for complex research. ChatGPT is a universal language model for a huge range of tasks (creating text, writing code, etc.). Perplexity positions itself as a pure “answer machine” that fully focuses on searching and citing.

The direct consequence is a measurable and significant drop in organic click-through rates. This development is part of the overarching trend of “Zero-Click Searches”. According to studies, around 58.5% of all Google searches already end without a click today. The new AI functions accelerate this dramatically.

How much does the click-through rate actually drop?

I became aware of a groundbreaking study through a post on SEO Südwest about the effects of AI search (Google’s AI mode changes user behavior – study shows decline in clicks).

The study on user behavior in Google AI Mode, conducted by Kevin Indig and Amanda Johnson together with the research team of Eric Van Buskirk (What Our AI Mode User Behavior Study Reveals about the Future of Search), delivers hard data: 77.6% of users (or roughly three-quarters of sessions) do not leave the AI Mode to visit a website. The median of external clicks per session is zero. Separately, other analyses confirm an average click loss of 17.8% in Germany for AI Overviews (the AI-generated answers in the standard search results).

Why E-E-A-T is now the decisive factor

E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness) is the primary signal that Google’s AI uses to identify trustworthy sources. Without demonstrable expertise, your content will become invisible to the AI. You can implement this specifically through:

• Clear author profiles with demonstrable expertise.
• Citations from primary sources and scientific studies.
• Integration of case studies and own experience reports.

Your goal is no longer ranking, but being cited as a verified source in the AI answer. If you want to delve deeper into the topic, you can find all the details in my E-E-A-T guide for more trust and top rankings.

Your strategy must evolve from pure keyword targeting to the creation of unique, non-aggregatable content. you must become an irreplaceable source for the AI.

Here is your concrete roadmap:

1. Create unique data and experiences.
   The AI can only aggregate what exists. Therefore, create content based on your own studies, exclusive surveys, or proprietary case studies. An AI cannot simply summarize this information from the competition.
2. Answer complex user questions in depth.
   Don’t optimize for simple keywords, but for complex problems. Structure your content as the most comprehensive answer to a question. Cover all conceivable aspects. For the technical analysis of how Google processes content, read my post on Google AI Overviews: How it works & SEO tips.
3. Use Schema Markup as a technical guide.
   Structured data is the crucial technical lever to be cited in AI Overviews. It translates your content for the AI. Consistently implement relevant schemas like FAQ-Schema, Article-Schema, and HowTo-Markup. You can find a complete guide in my guide to Structured Data and AI Overviews.
4. Produce multimodal content.
   Pure text is no longer enough. Create explanatory videos, infographics, and audio content that offer real added value and demonstrate your expertise on different levels.
5. Measure and monitor your performance.
   Classic rank trackers fall short here. Use the Google Search Console for performance analysis. Specialized SEO tools are also beginning to measure citation in AI Overviews as a new form of visibility.

Google is already working on the next stage: automated actions through the AI Mode. In the future, the AI will not only find information but will act on behalf of the user (e.g., hotel bookings, product purchases). As SEOs, we must prepare for the long-term optimization for transactional AI interactions.

The change brought about by the AI Mode is not a temporary phenomenon, but the new reality. The risk for companies that rely on organic traffic is immense and data-based. Ignoring it is not an option.

The opportunity for you lies in redefining your role: away from being a mere traffic supplier, towards being a recognized authority whose expertise flows directly into the AI systems. From now on, each of your content briefings must answer the question: “How will this content become the best and most trustworthy source for an AI answer?” The future of SEO lies in the uniqueness of the information, no longer solely in technical optimization.

The Google AI Mode and AI Overviews require an immediate rethink from you. Your focus must shift from chasing rankings to the production of irreplaceable, experience-based content that deserves to be used as a source by Google’s AI. This is the only way to secure relevant visibility in the new search landscape.